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(No Model.)

G. L. CROSS. SMOKE GONSUMING FURNACE.

No. 487,823. Patented Dem 13,1892.

UNITE STATES PATENT 7 OFFICE.

GEROME L. CROSS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDSTO DANIEL W. MELLEN AND WILLIAM D. MCKENZIE, OF SAME PLACE.

SMOKE-CONSUMING FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 487,823, dated December13, 1892.

Application filed January 7, 1892. Serial No. 417,318. on model.) 7

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEROME L. CROSS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inSmoke-ConsumingFurnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in Smoke-consuming furnaces ofthe character set forth in the Letters Patent of the United Statesgranted to Geiger, McKenzie, and Cross June 9, 1891, No. 453,805.

The purpose of the invention is to render the smoke-consuming furnacemore efficient for the economical production of a desired degree andvolume of heat from a given quantity of coal than heretofore and bymeans of an apparatus which is most simple and com-.

paratively inexpensive of construction and easy of application relativeto furnaces which may be already set.

The invention to these ends consists in constructions and arrangementsor combinations of parts, all substantially as will hereinafter fullyappear, and be set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is alongitudinal section from front to rear of a boiler-furnace, showingthe present improvements applied with relation thereto. Fig. 2 is anelevation taken at right angles to Fig. 1 of the improved apparatus, themasonry of the furnace being shown as in cross-section on the planeindicated by the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective and sectionalview showing the manner of connection of the air-conduit receptacles.

The present improved apparatus embodies, as in the aforementionedLetters Patent, the bridge-wall a, of step form, with the rising portiona forward of the horizontal portion, on which the cast-iron box A isplaced. The said box extends nearly or quite across the furnace-chamberand is closed with the exception of a series of perforations d atthrough its top and apertures b at its end walls. The masonry at thesides of the furnace-wall is at and above the ends of the horizontal boxbuilt with vertical recesses f f, in which are located as to part or allof the thickness thereof pipes g, which at their lower ends are providedwith elbow-sections h, which are connected with the horizontal box atthe apertured ends of the latter. Each of said pipes, as shown, is castrectangular in cross-section with the elbow-section integral therewith,said portion being open at its end and adapted to enter the aperture inthe end of the box to be in full communication with the box-chamber,whilethe upper ends of the said vertical pipes are closed either by anintegrally-cast closing-wall orby an independent stopper-section. Theinner wall of each of the vertical pipes which stand just within thecombustionchamber has the series of perforations, as indicated at i i.

m m represent the air-pipes passing rearwardly from the front of thefurnace through the ash-pit and under the bridge-wall and then upwardlyinto the combustion-chamber at the rear of the bridge-wall, continuedand disposed in return-bent sections or coils k, and thence forwardlyextended to communication with the said box near the ends thereof. Thesaid pipes at their ends at the front of the furnace are provided withfunnels n n, outwardly flaring. The axes of these funnels are angular tothe pipes, and the funnels are also adjustable on the pipes, wherebythey may be turned with their months away from the greatest air currentsor drafts in the boilerroom or toward them. The air entered at thefunnel-mouths of the pipes and passing to and continued in the coils orreturn-bent sections in the combustion-chamber there becomes highlyheated and is thence delivered into the horizontal box to issue in partthrough the perforations in the top thereof and in part to pass into andascend the upright pipes and thence to issue laterally into thefurnace-chamber above the bridge-wall.

While it is advantageous in a degree to have the air-jets rising fromthe box, the desirable effects are very materially augmented by thetransverse air-draft from the upright pipes at different heights, theone hot-air supply acting as an auxiliary with the other for theestablishment and protracted maintenance of the'desired high degree ofheat of the air at the bridge-wall for effecting the most perfectcombustion of the fuel elements.

The provision of the horizontal cast-iron box having the apertures inits end walls, as described, and the vertical pipes with the horizontalelbows render the application of the novel contrivances in furnaces mosteasy, for with a given width of box the fittings may be applied infurnaces of somewhat-varying widths, because the elbow-sections may beset farther within the end apertures of the box than in wider furnaces,there being practically a sliding engagement at the connection betweenthe box and the vertical pipes.

It is preferred to set the vertical pipe within recesses at the sidewalls of the furnace for the purpose of materially shielding the pipesfrom the destructive action of the often-saturated flame at the grate.

A highly scientific and impartial demonstration made by a leading expertby means of evaporation tests, using the apparatus for consuming andpreventing smoke, constructed as hereinbefore described, and set up in alarge steam-power plant, resulted in a showing of economy of fuelamounting to eight and three-tenths per cent. and a noticeable increasein capacity over the showing made when the air was excluded fromentrance to the air-pipe.

The effect of the appliance upon the combustion as viewed by an observerwatching the smoke and flame behind the bridge-wall was to producemarked advantage, most especially at the time of adding new coal. Afterthe airrpipes had been closed up the thenintroduction of air wasimmediately followed by a brightening up in the combustion-chamber andthe appearance of clear flame, while the cutting off of the air obscuredthe flame and rendered the chamber dark and cloudy. The verysatisfactory degree of the advantageous result derived is in consequenceof the action of the vertical hot-air jets from the box in conjunctionwith the transverse hot-air jets at difierent heights from the uprightpipes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is+

1. In a smoke-consuming furnace, the combination, with the bridge-wallhaving a support at its rear upper portion, of a metallic box mountedupon said support and having a series of perforations through its top,upright metallic conduits at the sides of the furnace-chamber, having attheir lower ends free communication with the chamber of said box andhaving series of perforations through the inwardly-facing walls, and anair-supply pipe leading'from outside of the furnace and having sectionsthereof disposed in the combustion-chamber and entering the chamber ofsaid box, all whereby the highly-heated air from said pipes may in partissue from the top of the box and in part continue through the ends ofthe box and upwardly in said side conduits to simultaneously issue atthe sides of the furnace, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. In a smoke-consuming furnace, the combination, with the bridge-wallhaving a support at its rear upper portion and its side walls oppositesaid support vertically recessed, of a metallic box mounted upon saidsupport and having a series of perforations through its top, uprightmetallic conduits set in said recesses at the sides of thefurnace-chamber and having at their lower ends free communication withthe chamber of said box andhaving series of perforations. through theinwardly-facing walls, and an air-supply pipe leading from outside ofthe furnace and having sections thereof disposedin thecombustion-chamber and entering the chamber of said box, allsubstantially as described and shown, for the purposes set forth.

3. In a smoke-consuming furnace, the combination, with the metalbox setat the bridgewall, having a series of perforations through its top andapertures through its end walls, of the upright pipes set at the sidesof the furnace,with perforations through theirin wardlyfaced walls andhaving the angular members at their lower ends for an adjustable fit andengagement in said end apertures of the box, and the supply-pipes whichlead from the out.- side of the furnace and have portions thereof in thecombustion-chamber and thence extended to communication with thebox-chamber, substantially as described.

GEROME L. CROSS.

Witnesses:

WM. S. BELLows, J. D. GARF E D.

